Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine have said they are taking over scores of factories and mines in the region, many of them belonging to a tycoon whose foundation has been the largest provider of humanitarian aid to the war-battered population.

Francis Fukuyama looks at how the leaking of bad information is being used by those who would like to have authoritarian power at their fingertips.

Russia has accused the Ukrainian government of dragging its feet on implementing last year’s cease-fire agreement.

US secretary of state John Kerry yesterday expressed “gave concern” to his Russian counterpart about a sharp rise in separatist attacks in eastern Ukraine and urged an immediate ceasefire, the State Department said.

Ukraine is in a dire financial situation, but there seems little international will to help this huge pro-European country, writes John Bruton 

The Government has a duty to ensure that the ill fortunes which Ireland has experienced never reoccur, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said yesterday as he launched this year’s National Risk Assessment programme.

Polish border guards have blocked entry into Poland for 10 Russian bikers who said they were following a path commemorating the Red Army victory’s over Nazi Germany 70 years ago.

A fragile ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists came under renewed pressure yesterday with the Ukrainian military reporting a serviceman had been killed and seven others wounded in rebel attacks.

Ukrainian military and separatist representatives exchanged dozens of prisoners under cover of darkness at a remote frontline location, kicking off a process intended to usher in peace to the conflict-ridden east.

Ukraine’s military and Russia-backed separatist rebels have accused each other of continuing to mount attacks a week after a ceasefire was called.

Intense artillery exchanges between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists have persisted around a strategic town in eastern Ukraine – fighting that threatens to dash a ceasefire deal brokered by European leaders last week.

The Ukrainian government and Russia-backed rebels have each accused the other of violating a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.

The leaders of Germany and France met Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko in a hastily arranged mission to bring an end to the accelerated fighting in the east of the country.

French president Francois Hollande has said he is taking a new peace initiative to Ukraine alongside German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Artillery fire in eastern Ukraine has killed at least eight people and wounded 22 others in the past day, rebels in the separatist stronghold of Donetsk said.

Deadly rocket attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol that “knowingly targeted civilians” broke international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes, the United Nations’ political chief has said.

Thirteen people were killed when a bus in Ukraine was hit by a rocket earlier this month, but it barely registered as news outside a country still fighting on all sides, writes Lucian Kim

At least seven people are reported to have been killed when a city bus was hit by an artillery shell in a separatist stronghold in east Ukraine.

Separatist forces in eastern Ukraine have deployed large quantities of arms and manpower to an emerging flashpoint, undermining hopes for a new peace initiative taking shape.

Ross Kemp tells Sophie Eastaugh about some of the jaw-dropping moments from his new series. And no, he won’t make the EastEnders reunion.

A major exchange of war prisoners is getting under way in eastern Ukraine, with about 370 expected to be released.

A major exchange of war prisoners is getting under way in eastern Ukraine, with about 370 expected to be released.

A major exchange of war prisoners is getting under way in eastern Ukraine, with about 370 expected to be released.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has defended the Kremlin’s aggressive foreign policy, saying the actions are necessary for his country’s survival.

The United States is destabilising the global order by trying to impose its will on other nations, Vladimir Putin has declared.

Russia’s currency has dropped to an all-time low against the US dollar as it continues to suffer from the fallout of economic sanctions.

Shelling has killed six people and wounded 15 others in the Ukraine rebel stronghold of Donetsk, the city council said.

The European Union has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, targeting some of its largest companies, in a response to Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.

A ceasefire between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government troops appeared to be largely holding in eastern Ukraine, a day after shelling and clashes rattled nerves and imperilled the peace deal.

NATO has unveiled tough new measures to stop Russian aggression in the Baltic States.

Shelling resounded on the outskirts of a key Ukrainian port as Russian-backed rebels pressed their south-east offensive, just hours ahead of talks that are widely hoped to bring a ceasefire.

The European Union is set to unveil a fresh package of sanctions against Russia as western leaders staged a show of support for the Ukrainian government.

The European Union is set to unveil a fresh package of sanctions against Russia as western leaders staged a show of support for the beleaguered Ukrainian government.

The European Union is set to unveil a fresh package of sanctions against Russia as western leaders staged a show of support for the Ukrainian government.

Ukraine and the pro-Russian separatists appear increasingly close to signing a deal to end four months of fighting.

If ever we needed an example of the devious and twisted logic that permeates the European Union, we got it over the weekend from Lithuainian president, Dalia Grybauskaite.

Russian military forces have been spotted in both major rebel-held cities in eastern Ukraine, an official said, prompting Ukraine to declare it now has to fight the Russian army, not just the separatists.

A Russian official has complained that EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso breached confidentiality when he quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying that Moscow could take over Kiev in two weeks if it wished.

Russia’s foreign minister has urged those holding a new round of talks on easing Ukraine’s crisis to push for a ceasefire between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian separatists.

The Ukrainian military said yesterday that more Russian soldiers had crossed the border into eastern Ukraine, entering the small town of Amvrosiyivka in five armoured infantry carriers and a truck.

Russia has announced plans to send a second aid convoy to rebel-held eastern Ukraine, where months of fighting have left many residential buildings in ruins.

Hundreds of trucks from a bitterly disputed Russian aid convoy to rebel-held eastern Ukraine rolled back across the border into Russia today.